Talented swimmer Ethan’s dreams of a career in the pool were ended by illness, but he still uses his passion for swimming to raise money for others.

Ethan, 14, had already bounced back from being hospitalised with sepsis as a baby and then being the victim of a hit-and-run accident on his way home from school at the age of eight. He suffered smashed kneecaps and a broken jaw, and was devastated to be told he couldn’t play football again.

His physiotherapist recommended swimming to aid his rehabilitation, and astonishingly, he went on to break age group records, win county championships in Lancashire and swim at a national level. He also used his talent to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity with a series of gruelling sponsored swims.

But his dreams of one day swimming at the Olympics were shattered just over a year ago when he was diagnosed with a rare and serious condition, sporadic hemiplegic migraine, which mimics the effects of a stroke and brain tumour.

Although now much improved physically, Ethan can no longer swim at the highest level. Despite this, he continues to raise funds with his swimming.